This weekend saw my very first foray into the Festival Henna scene. Never one to do things by halves, I jumped in with both feet and booked myself into the Crafts Market for Bingley Music Live – a full, 3 day music festival. What. An. Amazing Experience that was. My team of quite frankly AMAZING booth babes and myself went with the key goal of: Relax and Enjoy.
Well. We were inundated with MASSIVE Henna Loving from so many festival goers! I have over 190 photos to process and upload. It was immense and I wished I had been able to clone myself to avoid turning people away for toilet and meal breaks. But never fear! I shall be back again next year for Bingley Music Live 2016 – with a bigger team! More henna! And more JOY for all of Bingers!
For now, I would like to take a moment to express deep and heartfelt gratitude to my beautiful and wonderful booth babes. Some of you will have learned from us during the weekend that these ladies who kept the queue organised, and the breaks regularly scheduled, actually came to work with me on a purely voluntary basis for the entire 3 days. These ladies are an amazing group of friends made during my first years as a first-time mother – so we have known each other for roughly 8 years now. They have seen my growth and my developing obsessive passion with henna. They wanted me taking the jump into the festival scene even more than I wanted it for myself and have made it their mission to give me that all important kickstart. They were there with me during the early starts and there for the late finishes. We joked and we laughed together. We grumped and we moaned together. They kept me sane and focussed on the importance of enjoying the moment and having FUN. Polite, professional and equipped with people skills that money can’t buy. We had Caroline ‘I’ve got the Talk and I know how to use it’: There wasn’t a single vendor or member of site staff who didn’t love her or want her for their own team! It was clear to all what a diamond she is. Then Helen ‘Don’t Mess with the Money’: Calm and composed throughout every situation, like a cooling breeze. You would be hard pushed to find anybody more supportive in friendship. And finally Abigail ‘Dance ’til my legs hurt’: Coming in on Saturday to provide some very much needed relief and support for Caroline and Helen, this lady has been talking about attending BML for years and last year I vowed I would get her there by hook or by crook. And what a laugh it was! If I could pay them what they are worth, I would never be able to afford them. These ladies are worth their weight in gold.
Please join me in a communal digital standing ovation for these truly amazing ladies. I am overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude whenever I realise what they have done for me. If you have the honour of meeting them, know that you have met awesomeness. I am blessed to be able to call them my friends.
Abigail says
My hat off to you Connie for living your dream and allowing me to live a piece of it with you! Helen and Caroline worked so hard and like Connie said it was amazeballs. I can feel my cheeks fizz with hippy hunky dory. Love you guys xx
Connie says
It’s still very surreal – but that could be the epic henna hangover I’m still recovering from! Love you too!! I shall have a time table and scheduled plan for next year. It will be kinder to us all! xx
Flavia says
I am so pleased your first festival event was a resounding success !
And now you know a great booth babe is worth her weight in gold, she is priceless.
Congratulations and best wishes for many more festival triumphs
Flavia
Alpha Booth Babe
Henna Caravan
Connie says
Thank you, Flavia! Great booth babes really are priceless!! I’m so grateful for all the information I’ve read and researched in the past year, preparing me for this festival. The henna community has been amazing. I definitely plan to do this festival again next year and now also looking into other local festivals 😉
Ana says
Well done Connie on this mile stone you deserve all the respect for getting this far..keep on staining those body parts hope to see you soon lots of love Ana xx
Connie says
Thanks Ana!! It was an epic milestone! Great fun though. Looking forwards to seeing you soon xx